Bisphenol A Erases Biodiversity

18.07.2012

Some types of industrial pollutants poison sea fauna immediately, while others affect whole populations of fish and crustaceans species – including future generations and reproduction. One of the most toxic pollutants of the second type is bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used for production of plastic. It leaks into ecosystems of almost all seas, oceans, rivers and lakes all over the planet.

Ecologists from the USA studied the influence of bisphenol A on two species of fish Cyprinella venusta and Cyprinella lutrensis that inhabit rivers and creeks of North America. Venustas inhabit a certain area and never leave it throughout their lives, while lutrensis travel a lot – thus encountering venustas. These two species of the same genus had never mated before, but having been affected by BPA, these fish became more frivolous during their mating period. As a result, the two species produce hybrids, thus erasing interspecific diversity.

Besides that, toxins like BPA severely affect reproductive systems of all marine fauna. Scientists discovered that fish become hermaphrodites: either males with immature roe or females with milt that is not suitable for reproduction.